Hampshire Chronicle's Winchester Love Local Business campaign

Many of the changes have been happening for years and Covid-19 has simply accelerated them.

The growth in online retail is just one example.

Winchester, Hampshire. Millions more people have moved to harsher coronavirus restrictions today as the new tier changes came into force in England..">

People make their way past a Government coronavirus Tier 4 sign on the High street in Winchester, Hampshire. Millions more people have moved to harsher coronavirus restrictions today as the new tier changes came into force in England.

But it is now and in the future as lockdown restrictions are lifted, it is more important than ever to support our business communities, great retailers and superb hospitality venues, right across Winchester.

So the Hampshire Chronicle is teaming up with the city council and Winchester BID to launch the Love Our Local Business campaign, in print, online and on social media.

Over the coming weeks we will be giving extensive coverage and exposure to our brilliant local business communities.

See how the BID is helping here. 

See the city council's support scheme here.

This will include a special print edition supplement on local businesses and an online picture gallery launching on February 18.

There will also be stories, profiles, news and information each week highlight all aspects of great local businesses, high streets and shopping centres.

And it’s all free.

For all businesses, there will be a ‘Star Prize’ draw with winner receiving an ecommerce website and a four month marketing package provided by Winchester City Council and LOCALiQ, the digital marketing arm of Newsquest, publisher of the Chronicle.

The editor of the Hampshire Chronicle, Bill Browne, said: “We have learned a great deal in the past year, not least that working together is absolutely vital.

“So much can be achieved through collaboration and supporting and promoting business in these incredibly tough and challenging times.

“Businesses across Winchester are the lifeblood of their communities and the city’s economy. We all have a stake in their success. As we wait for the full, vaccination roll out, we want to do our bit to help boost business.”

Bill Browne

LOCALiQ advertising director, Laura Bielinski, said: “We are delighted to be working very closely with Winchester City Council and Winchester BID in this hugely important campaign.

“Together we want to be at the very forefront of backing, promoting and supporting the business community.

“It’s also vital to ensure that shoppers and visitors feel safe, confident and reassured that it is okay to come back to our city centre and district high streets. This is also a huge priority.”

She added businesses in all sectors had worked tirelessly to deal with all the challenges thrown at the them by the pandemic.

For example many have stepped up their digital presence, pivoted towards e-commerce and are now trading successfully both online and on the high street.

“We want to celebrate and highlight the great work they are doing and how crucial they are to all of us.”

Executive director of Winchester BID, Paul Spencer, said the Love Local initiative was very welcome.

Christmas shoppers make their way along the High street in Winchester, Hampshire, which is in tier 2 of coronavirus restrictions. Downing Street has said that restrictions measures over the Christmas period were being kept under "constant review" in res

“Anything we can do together to make as much noise as possible about our city’s fantastic business has to be good thing. This kind of partnership working is the way forward.”

Peter Taylor of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce said: “The businesses in Winchester have felt significant pain of the pandemic. The footfall to the city centre and the communities in the city has dropped greatly as we play our part in overcoming the spread of the virus.

“There are many resilient businesses which have adapted how they offer their goods and services. A number have increased their sales on line and through home delivery.

“The future prosperity of the city and the speed at which we can collectively recover from the pandemic depends significantly on the people of Winchester continuing to support each other, and especially local businesses in the city.

How readers can get involved

We are running a weekly competition for six weeks for readers to win £25 cash to spend supporting their local businesses.

All you have to do is send us a picture of them Loving Local businesses for a chance to win – click and collect, takeaways, home delivery, favourite coffee shop take away or using e-commerce from their favourite store.